Summer Pre-Medical Programs & Medical Programs

  Kenya

• Mombasa: 
Mombasa

Term: Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Winter 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: The program starts one or two days after the arrival of the students and orientation about the about the hospital and accommodation has taken place.Students will be introduced to the medical supervising officer and given time-table of the departments they

Description: Junior Elective Medical Program

An affable welcome to the Elective Africa medical program for junior medical students. This program is designed to suit pre-medical students, 1st and 2nd year medical students in the United States and Canada, the equivalent of 1st, 2nd and 3rd year medical students in 5 or 6 year medical programs across the globe e.g. the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and various medical university programs in other parts of Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

This program is tailored to offer an immeasurable level of practical hands on experience, under supervision, to budding doctors. The program is focused on the integration of knowledge acquired by the students in various sections of their learning process such as: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Community Health, Pharmacology, General and Systemic Pathology, Hematology, Immunology and Clinical Chemistry. This theoretical knowledge is directed by the supervising doctors and consultants in the hospital to enable the student to draw an understanding of diverse aspects relating to the care of the patient e.g. relevant history taking in various body systems, physical examination, relevant laboratory investigations and their interpretation, arriving at pertinent diagnoses and appropriate treatment measures. The student may be allowed to observe and assist in various general and orthopedic surgeries, under supervision, enabling him/her to get a modest orientation to the clinical specialty, as well as put to practical application his/her knowledge in anatomy. A humble introduction to the clinical specialties of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology is also attained.

Elective Africa hosts pre-medical and junior medical students at St. Joseph Mission Hospital in Migori, Kenya. The program at the hospital has been geared to distinctively harness knowledge attained by the students in pre-medical and junior medical years. In the event that a student would like placement in a different hospital hosted by Elective Africa, a request may be made to the program co-ordinators. Senior medical students may also be hosted at the hospital if this is so desired.

Due to its rural setting, St. Joseph Mission Hospital is also ideal for the placement of volunteers who would like to offer their services at a hospital. The volunteer would be involved in a vast array of activities within the hospital and tending to patients with various illnesses. The volunteer may also engage in a guided interaction with the community at large in the environment around the hospital.

St. Joseph Mission Hospital is located in Migori town approximately 500km from the capital of Kenya - Nairobi, in Nyanza Province. It is also about 70km from the great Lake Victoria. It has a vast catchment area and serves the rural population with a number of outpatients and inpatients under the care of the specialties of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Clinical Medicine as well as Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. The hospital offers a steadfast commitment to the service of the sick and ailing and convivially invites you to share in their knowledge and experience of medicine and noble service to humanity.

The Program youve been waiting for:
Students will have an opportunity to rotate in medical specialities of their choice for a cumulative duration of 4 weeks. In the event a student wishes to rotate for a duration exceeding this period a request may be made to the program co-ordinators. Students are expected to interact with, clerk, and examine patients and formulate management of various conditions under supervision of the hospital's Medical officers (an equivalent of Senior House officer) and consultants in various clinical specialties. Various procedures may be performed under supervision and depend on the clinical rotation the student is engaged in at the time.

A variety of disease entities and medical conditions will be encountered in various systems and fields of medicine. A proactive liaison with the hospital staff and senior consultants is recommended.

Program Length:
4 weeks, including 4 days travelling to Nairobi and Safari to the famous Maasai Mara. Click here for Maasai Mara itinerary.

Orientation and getting your feet in:
St. Joseph Mission Hospital staff and Elective Africa program co-ordinators will be responsible for adequately orienting students to their departments and identifying the patient care process within specific specialties. Particularly, this would involve reviewing the medical procedures in patient assessment and department procedures for providing patient care.

The hospital staff will serve as mentors for the students, outlining mechanisms for patient interaction, clinical evaluation and management protocols.

The hospital may allow senior medical students the opportunity to assess and interact with patients and formulate their own clinical impressions based on these evaluations. It will also outline the resources that are available in evaluating patients and discuss how to appropriately access these resources in patient evaluation. Various laboratory and other diagnostic testing methods would also be discussed. The hospital staff continually assesses progress in the clinical accumen of the student and provides feedback to the students regarding clinical performance through their rotation.

For any inquiries and further details regarding the program, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Elective Africa sincerely trusts your stay with us at St. Josephs hospital will prove to be a most rewarding experience not only in clinical knowledge and experience but also in the form of an incredibly gratifying cultural experience.

Accommodation and Meals:
The students are provided with comfortable and luxurious housing at the student guesthouses of the hospital. Each student guesthouse is fully furnished. Ladies and gentlemen are housed on opposite sides of the common room of the guest house. Each student is provided with a bed and his/her own study table. The common room hosts a dining area and sofas, boasting an environment conducive for group discussions. It is also furnished with a television and dvd player set for moments of recreation after a hard days work at the hospital and discussions. Depending on availability of staff, the students may request housing officers living nearby to join in to pilot discussions of specific cases encountered at the hospital. A separate room within the student guesthouse has been allocated for moments of quiet and personal study, furnished with tables and chairs and selected books of reference.

A chef is assigned to the students and meals are served 3 times a day. Tea, coffee and snacks are served on request. Meal menus are flexible and may be chosen by the chef or by what the students collectively desire.

It is our sincere desire that our students at Elective Africa be provided for an environment beneficial to their vital growth as competent doctors of service to the patients around them.

Highlights: Kenya is an incredible country to experience. The country boasts some of the most incredible natural wonders in the world as well as a warm culture with a rich heritage. Participants are welcomed into the community and work with local organizations. Many of the programs are based in rural and around the city of Mombasa, a perfect base for a stay in Kenya. It is the second largest city in Kenya, located 8 and a half hours by bus southwest of Nairobi.
You require some legal papers for your admittance to kenya.We strongly recommend the visitors visa"Ordinary/Single Entry Visa which cost US$50 and are issued on application at the Kenya missions abroad or at the arrival at the port of entry. The requirements includes:

1. Valid Passport
2. Completed visa application forms
3. Any other documents eg return ticket
4. Two passport size photographs

Qualifications: Interns must be pre-med or medical students.Volunteers must be medical professionals.This program is tailer-made for students who are planning to join medical school or college.

Cost in US$: Cost depends on duration taken. Please contact us for details.

In-country Orientation: Each program starts with a day orientation which covers important topics on the logistics of living and working in Kenya, a historical overview and introduction to culture, survival Swahili lessons, a safari to Maasai Mara National Park, and visits to sites in Nairobi such as the US embassy which was bombed in 1998 etc.
In-country Staff Support: Elective Africa coordinators has years of experience working with visitors to Kenya. They are very resourceful and on call 24/7 in case of emergency.

Accommodations: Students stay in apartments & sometimes with a local host family where they are provided with a room and breakfast and dinner each day.Students learn about the day to day rhythms of Kenyan life first hand as well as sample traditional meals not usually available in restaurants.
In Short,all these are covered:
- Airport transfer on Arrival
- Accommodation Cost at the project
- Meals
- Transport Cost from Nairobi to the Hospital
- Accommodation Cost at the Hospital
- Meals at the Hospital
- Local Students Permits
- Elective charges at the Hospital
- Government taxes
- 3 Days Safaris at The Masai Mara National Park
   (i)Park entry fees at the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
   (ii)Accomodation in Tented Camps
   (iii)Meals at the Camps
   (iv)Drivers allowances
   (v) Use of Open roofed game viewing vans

All students need to notify & give Elective Africa their full flight details prior to arrival.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: There is no typical Elective Africa volunteer.We work with students and volunteers from all over the world and a variety of backgrounds.Elective Africa has placed students & volunteers ranging from 17-70yrs. Successful students & volunteers are flexible,upbeat,energetic,inquisitive and are ready to learn new things.

Age Range: 17yrs and above.

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Resume

Post-Program Services Include:

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Alumni Network

Elective Africa's Mission Statement: Our mission is to provide and offer opportunities for both students and international volunteers to interact in development and educational programs thus enabling them to gain experience and build their capacities for their lives and that of future generations.

Year Founded: 2000